KUALA LUMPUR: An education expert believes that bringing back the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and the Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) would help to restore the national education system for the benefit of our children.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Centre of Education and Diversity senior lecturer Dr Anuar Ahmad said the implementation of the classroom-based assessment (PBD) after seven years has not been successful as expected.

"In my opinion, the implementation of PBD after seven years has not been successful as expected. This is my personal view after examining the data. It's okay if some disagree with my opinion.

"Therefore, I believe it would be better to bring back UPSR and PT3 for now so that we can restore the national education system for the benefit of our children.

"My choice to support the return of UPSR and PT3 is not because centralised exams are the best assessment method. This choice is made because I can no longer rely on the unclear direction and effectiveness of PBD implementation," he said.

He added that he had made this assessment after listening, reading and studying numerous complaints from parents and teachers regarding the implementation of the PBD.

He also claimed most parents and teachers want PBD to be abolished and UPSR-PT3 reinstated.

"The data showing student decline in the Programme for International Student Assessment 2022, the high dropout rate in 3M (reading, writing, arithmetic) from primary to secondary school, and low Maths achievement in SPM 2022 and 2023 support my decision.

"Yes, in my view, PBD has indeed failed. But this is not due to the principles of PBD. On paper, PBD is indeed a good assessment method. Nor is it the fault of the teachers, who have tried to implement PBD to the best of their ability. No.

"The failure of PBD in this country stems from inadequate planning and preparation of the PBD ecosystem. If the PBD ecosystem had been ready since 2017, PBD would surely have succeeded like it has in European and Scandinavian countries. Unfortunately, our ecosystem was not prepared to implement PBD," he said.

He added that at the same time, if there is still interest in PBD, it should be planned well.

On Sept 15, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called for a review of the education policy on examinations for Primary 6 and Form 3 students.

This, he said, is necessary following revelations that 27 per cent of Year 1 pupils nationwide have problems with reading, writing and counting. 

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/1107636/education-expert-urges-reinstating-upsr-pt3-improve-education-system